A/N: As said, here's the last chapter of the story. I hope you guys would enjoy it! :)
Goodbye...Hello
Ichigo thanked the Gods for letting the phone track Homura's mobile. He guessed that she didn't mind this possibility but it's much better than to circle the whole town or the whole country of Japan, supposedly.
He was driving fast, almost reaching the speed limit and realized that he was a few kilometers away from where the said location is. It was outside the Krakura town but there's no exact address on how to describe it. It was a small house built near a cliff.
He knew right there and then that this could turn to something dangerous.
After all, why settle everything in such a secluded place?
The siblings have crossed the line and they'll regret that as soon as he gets Rukia and they'll both return to what they used to.
I hope you're safe Rukia…
He didn't really have something for these guys but rage just built inside him since they were behind of all of this. It was downright stupid, reckless and insane to kidnap their very family – that's what Rukia calls 'em.
He stopped his car at the roadside and hurriedly ran towards the old house. Stepping inside, he saw Rukia's tied form. His heart broke since he knew those ropes tied to her hands and feet would cause bruises to her soft, milky skin.
"Ichigo!" she shouted, her sapphire eyes filled with joy of seeing him and fear of losing him if he stays.
Ichigo clenched his fist at the sight.
He won't let this get too far.
"Rukia!" He shouted back and as he was about to go near her, he felt a cool metal onto the side of his head. "Don't you dare take one step!" Homura spat out. Shizuku simply went beside Rukia.
"Homura, please! I told you, I'll never see him again…just let him go and then we'll go together…far away from here…! Just–"
"You said that before! But if he's alive, then..." she began to pull the hammer of the gun, "Come with me."
"Where are you taking him? Ichigo, run!"
Ichigo felt useless at the moment. He wanted to fight but not with a girl pointing a gun to his head. Also, they're important in Rukia's life; all the more that he can't have the upper hand. Still, he has to do something…and fast.
"Shizuku please let me go." She began to mutter in entreat.
"I'm sorry, nee-san's right. I…I don't want my sister to be lonely again…but seeing her like this…"
"Shizuku…"she gazed into his eyes with plead and assurance, "I don't want to leave you, you know that well. Just let me go and let's settle this."
He sighed and immediately cut the ropes with a Swiss knife, "Please save her. "
"Stay at the edge so that you can directly fall down after I shoot you." He complied at what she said and she continued, "I don't want to do this but I have to; I can't erase your memories with her, after all."
He scolded, "Memories aren't everything! When I saw her after two years, I knew she was Rukia and the same with hers as well no matter how she denies it. You can't take the bond away from us!"
She gritted her teeth and was about to fire but her head hit the grass and the bullet went in another direction, "What are you doing Shizuku?"
"Onee-san, stop this!"
At the corner of her emerald eyes, she saw Ichigo running to Rukia and embraced each other for dear life.
No…no… NO!
She struggled from her brother's restraints for he was open in a split second and pointed the gun towards them. "Rukia, stay away from him!" she nervously shouted fearing that she may shot Rukia.
The petite woman used her body as a human shield in front of the most important person in her life. Slowly, she stepped closer to her figure, "Homura…drop the gun. I don't want this anymore."
Her voice tried to sound stern yet gentle; dealing with someone who has a gun is actually scary. But, she needs to focus; no one should be hurt.
Absolutely no one.
Enough.
Homura's eyes squinted and pointed the gun to Ichigo's head which was slightly open from Rukia's guard.
"Homura!"
Rukia instantly grabbed her hands that were holding the said weapon and tussled hard to release from her now tight grasp. She brought it down with force to get an easy access on letting it go. Unknowingly, the muzzle was pointing at her and as Homura was about to let go, the trigger was accidentally activated.
Homura looked at Rukia and she looked back.
She thought that no one got hurt; however, she saw Rukia's shirt having a red fluid spreading quickly on her.
"Rukia!"
Ichigo desperately called and ran onto her falling figure. The raven-haired woman put pressure on her wound. She knew it was deep; hopefully, she wouldn't pass out just yet.
"Rukia! Look at me! You're going to be okay…I'll call the medics! Hang in there Rukia!" He advised her breathlessly.
The woman standing before them had her eyes watering with tears. She released the gun and stepped back shakily, her hands on her mouth, "I.. I didn't do this…I didn't mean it…Rukia…please don't be angry… I –"
Walking backwards, she slipped as she was already on the edge of the cliff and began to fall.
"onee-san!" Shizuku cried out and grabed her in the waist but was too late to grab the solid earth of the land form. Just in time, Ichigo gripped his arm, surprising the young brother a bit, "You…"
"I can't let you die; Rukia would kill me if I did." Ichigo said with a determined expression on his face.
He grimaced and tossed his head to the side; he clearly didn't see that coming from him. This man saving us.
Rukia went to Ichigo's side and held out her free hand, "Shizuku, give me Homura."
Homura gazed at Rukia, "I'm sorry Rukia…"
"I know, but this is not the time. Give me your hand!"
Shizuku felt her hold to him grow tighter; he completely understood what's inside her mind. For his sister, he'll do anything; he can feel her so well: That's how much he knows and loves his sister.
"We deserved this right? We didn't listen to Rukia."
"No, you've done nothing wrong." She closed her eyes and whined as the pain attacks her; she was still bleeding, "Now please, your hand."
"Don't be angry at my sister…" He tried to loosen Ichigo's grip.
"Hey! What are you doing! Stop it!" he exclaimed in panic.
Rukia gasped at what he's trying to do and tried to reach out but can't because of too much pain the shot had caused her. She truly hates when she's vulnerable like this.
Still, she's not going to let it end this way!
The siblings gazed at each other quite happily.
"Shizuku…"
"Homura nee-san…Thank you."
Rukia continued to struggle to reach as Ichigo also tries to resist his attempts of sliding his hand from his clutch. "Rukia…Thank you…We're sorry…"
Tears finally left her emerald eyes, "Sayonara…"
"Take care of her Kurosaki Ichigo-san", he smiled warmly at Ichigo, his amber eyes going wide in surprise.
After that, Shizuku actually managed to release his hand from him with the 'distraction'. Rukia screamed their names and started to cry.
Shit, he thought. Why would you leave Rukia like this?
He consoled her by hugging her in his arms and kept silent. There was nothing else he can do to ease the pain but this. Then, her hands fell from the sides; she passed out.
"Rukia! Rukia!" He yelled. He continued to caress her and hold her as sirens of ambulance were heard from a distance.
Ten days later:
After the ritual, Rukia prayed in front of the two gravestones at a cemetery. She was okay; her gun wound continues to heal properly and the bruises were almost out of sight. But the pain at times returns especially if she remembers that day and the moments she had spent with them.
Ironically, those happy moments makes her lonely.
She sensed a footstep behind her and spun around, "Ichigo."
His hands were on his pockets, standing casually a few meters from her. He could tell she's depressed but she continued to fight on. "I knew you were here. Inoue and the others are looking for you."
She smiled weakly in reply.
"You know, I don't really believe in supernatural things but…I think you'll be able to meet them again. Someday. I'm not sure how or when but the bond you have with them will always be connected. That feeling is just like the time I met you again after you supposedly departed." He scratched his head to avoid her gaze. "I didn't know that you were alive so I thought it's like a second chance or second life so it seems that way."
Rukia beamed wider making her face look softer and simply joked, "Wow Ichigo. Didn't know you were interested in that stuff."
He rebutted furiously, "Of course not! I was only trying to lighten up the mood!"
She only chuckled.
Silence.
Ichigo then held out his hand to her, "Come on, Rukia."
As she gave her hand he caught a glimpse to a twinkling object and he thought her eyes were the only ones sparkling. "Rukia…is that?"
She pouted a bit, looking at the said object instead of his face, "O-of course, idiot! What else w-would it b-be?"
"So you…" he stuttered, pointing his finger at her.
"Yes."
"R-really?"
They were already out of the graveyard, out to the open field, she sighed in exasperation but answered him lovingly anyway, "Yes, Kurosaki Ichigo. I, Kuchiki Rukia, accept your proposal. I do want to marry you."
He was speechless; no words were forming…nonetheless, the only thing he could do…was to kiss her. She responded immediately and pulled his tie down to get a better access and dominance to the kiss. He's not going to lose. He instantly carried her bridal style as he kissed her, deeply this time towards their car. He whispered onto her ear, "Looks like our honeymoon's going to be early."
She laughed and let him drive back but he changed location. He heard her querying in spectacle, "They're waiting. That's why you came to get me right?"
"Like hell I came for that. I came for you."
And they drove off towards the future that awaits them…Where they can be together; the red string of fate tying them, holding them strongly…forever.
A/N: Oh my, it has ended! :( I want to thank you guys for the support! 33
BUT, like I said, I'm planning to have another story derived from this. It would be some sort of an "uncut" version... To make things simpler, I wrote the story such that Rukia's memories returned fast, right? In the upcoming new story, I would like to do do stories wherein every memory would be retrieve one by one. So, it would be basically focused on my Bleach OTP: Ichigo & Rukia.
Let's hope for more IR moments in the manga soon! (I miss Rukia~)
Guys, watch out for it! XD
Thank you and all the love,
ftb-churro